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Cambodian Aids orphans at SOS Children’s Villages

July 31, 2007

In addition to providing loving homes for orphaned and abandoned children, SOS Children’s Villages seeks to build stronger communities. They do so by creating family strengthening programs which provide families with the confidence and skills needed to care for their own children, which aids to decrease child abandonment. A leading example in building a stronger community is the SOS children’s village in Battambang, Cambodia which opened in 2004. As Cambodia continues to face an aids epidemic which leaves behind many aids orphans, SOS Children’s Village Battambang built a social center and a kindergarten which runs AIDS awareness programs, and provide medical assistance for needy families in the community. SOS children’s village Battambang also continues to be the new home of not just abandoned and homeless children, but AIDS orphans as well.

SOS Children’s Village in Battambang, Cambodia

Meet 3 Brothers from the Village
Meas, Bong, and Vanak were the first boys who came to live in SOS Children’s Village Battambang. The boy’s father who was a policeman that died from AIDS in 2003, leaving their mother with no income, depleted savings and also infected with AIDS. With her health worsening and financial problems at home, the boy’s mother committed suicide in 2005.  This left the boys frightened, alone, and AIDS orphans. When their elderly grandmother couldn’t care for them any longer because of her own poor health they were sent to live at SOS Children’s Village Battambang.

SOS Children’s Villages gave the three orphaned boys a permanent place to call home that was a fresh start for them all together. “This is a beautiful house and I don’t believe that we will actually live here,” said Bong jumping with excitement. The youngest one quickly went to the bedroom and chose his bed. “This is my bed and I also have a pillow,” said Vanak. Having a pillow was a luxury to the little one because the children didn’t have a bed in their house and slept on the floor.

As the 3 brothers slowly adjust to their new home, they have formed a close, attaching relationship with their SOS mother. They continue to cope with the overwhelming pain and grief of losing their parents; but SOS Children’s Villages will be there to help them replace their pain and grief and provide them with comfort and security in their new lives. SOS Children’s Village in Battambang gave the twins a new home, secure life, and hope.

Children from the SOS Children’s Village in Battambang, Cambodia

Topics: Orphans, Asia, Case Study |